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Psychophysiology Nov 2021Despite the unfolding impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being, there is a lack of prospective studies that target physiological markers of distress....
Despite the unfolding impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being, there is a lack of prospective studies that target physiological markers of distress. There is a need to examine physiological predictors from the pre-pandemic period to identify and treat individuals at-risk. In this study, our aim was to use pre-pandemic markers of autonomic nervous system (ANS) parasympathetic and sympathetic regulation to predict individuals' psychological well-being during the crisis. We also assessed the role of mood regulation expectancies as a mediator of the association between pre-pandemic physiological measures and COVID-related well-being. In May to June 2020, 185 Israeli adults completed online questionnaires assessing their mood regulation expectancies since COVID-19 began, and their current well-being. These individuals had participated in lab studies 1.5-3 years prior to this assessment, where their physiological measures were taken, including respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and skin conductance level (SCL). RSA was positively related to mood regulation expectancies during COVID-19 (b = 3.46, 95% CI [0.84, 6.05]). Mood regulation expectancies, in turn, positively predicted well-being during the crisis (b = 0.021, 95% CI [0.016, 0.027]). The mediation was significant and moderated by SCL (index = -0.09, 95% CI [-0.02, -0.0001]), such that it was strongest for individuals with low SCL. We point to pre-pandemic physiological mechanisms underlying individuals' mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings have theoretical, diagnostic, and clinical implications that may refine our understanding of the physiological basis of resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic and thus may be implemented to identify and assist individuals in these times.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Affect; Autonomic Nervous System; COVID-19; Emotional Regulation; Female; Galvanic Skin Response; Humans; Israel; Male; Mental Health; Motivation; Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia; SARS-CoV-2; Young Adult
PubMed: 34329495
DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13910 -
Aging Apr 2019
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; Humans; Nervous System Diseases; Primary Dysautonomias
PubMed: 30969941
DOI: 10.18632/aging.101896 -
Endocrinology Nov 2021The brain influences liver metabolism through many neuroendocrine and autonomic mechanisms that have evolved to protect the organism against starvation and hypoglycemia.... (Review)
Review
The brain influences liver metabolism through many neuroendocrine and autonomic mechanisms that have evolved to protect the organism against starvation and hypoglycemia. Unfortunately, this effective way of preventing death has become dysregulated in modern obesogenic environments, although the pathophysiological mechanisms behind metabolic dyshomeostasis are still unclear. In this Mini-Review, we provide our thoughts regarding obesity and type 2 diabetes as diseases of the autonomic nervous system. We discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms that alter the autonomic brain-liver communication in these diseases, and how they could represent important targets to prevent or treat metabolic dysfunctions. We discuss how sympathetic hyperactivity to the liver may represent an early event in the progression of metabolic diseases and could progressively lead to hepatic neuropathy. We hope that this discussion will inspire and help to frame a model based on better understanding of the chronology of autonomic dysfunctions in the liver, enabling the application of the right strategy at the right time.
Topics: Animals; Autonomic Nervous System; Brain; Cell Communication; Humans; Liver; Metabolic Diseases; Neurosecretory Systems
PubMed: 34388249
DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab164 -
Clinical Autonomic Research : Official... Aug 2021The present paper will review the impact of different therapeutic interventions on the autonomic dysfunction characterizing chronic renal failure. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The present paper will review the impact of different therapeutic interventions on the autonomic dysfunction characterizing chronic renal failure.
METHODS
We reviewed the results of the studies carried out in the last few years examining the effects of standard pharmacologic treatment, hemodialysis, kidney transplantation, renal nerve ablation and carotid baroreceptor stimulation on parasympathetic and sympathetic control of the cardiovascular system in patients with renal failure.
RESULTS
Drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system as well as central sympatholytic agents have been documented to improve autonomic cardiovascular control. This has also been shown for hemodialysis, although with more heterogeneous results related to the type of dialytic procedure adopted. Kidney transplantation, in contrast, particularly when performed together with the surgical removal of the native diseased kidneys, has been shown to cause profound sympathoinhibitory effects. Finally, a small amount of promising data are available on the potential favorable autonomic effects (particularly the sympathetic ones) of renal nerve ablation and carotid baroreceptor stimulation in chronic kidney disease.
CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are needed to clarify several aspects of the autonomic responses to therapeutic interventions in chronic renal disease. These include (1) the potential to normalize sympathetic activity in uremic patients by the various therapeutic approaches and (2) the definition of the degree of sympathetic deactivation to be achieved during treatment.
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Cardiovascular System; Humans; Kidney; Pressoreceptors; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Sympathetic Nervous System
PubMed: 33606138
DOI: 10.1007/s10286-021-00786-6 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2021Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by various symptoms including autonomic imbalance. These disturbances involve almost all autonomic functions... (Review)
Review
Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by various symptoms including autonomic imbalance. These disturbances involve almost all autonomic functions and might contribute to poor medication compliance, worsened quality of life and increased mortality. Therefore, it has a great importance to find a potential therapeutic solution to improve the autonomic disturbances. The altered level of kynurenines (e.g., kynurenic acid), as tryptophan metabolites, is almost the most consistently found biochemical abnormality in schizophrenia. Kynurenic acid influences different types of receptors, most of them involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Only few data suggest that kynurenines might have effects on multiple autonomic functions. Publications so far have discussed the implication of kynurenines and the alteration of the autonomic nervous system in schizophrenia independently from each other. Thus, the coupling between them has not yet been addressed in schizophrenia, although their direct common points, potential interfaces indicate the consideration of their interaction. The present review gathers autonomic disturbances, the impaired kynurenine pathway in schizophrenia, and the effects of kynurenine pathway on autonomic functions. In the last part of the review, the potential interaction between the two systems in schizophrenia, and the possible therapeutic options are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Autonomic Nervous System; Humans; Kynurenic Acid; Kynurenine; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 34576179
DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810016 -
Praxis Sep 2016
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Electrocardiography; Exercise; Heart Rate; Humans; Physical Education and Training; Physical Endurance; Reference Values
PubMed: 27606910
DOI: 10.1024/1661-8157/a002489 -
Cardiovascular Toxicology Jan 2015The body responds to environmental stressors by triggering autonomic reflexes in the pulmonary receptors, baroreceptors, and chemoreceptors to maintain homeostasis.... (Review)
Review
The body responds to environmental stressors by triggering autonomic reflexes in the pulmonary receptors, baroreceptors, and chemoreceptors to maintain homeostasis. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to various gases and airborne particles can alter the functional outcome of these reflexes, particularly with respect to the cardiovascular system. Modulation of autonomic neural input to the heart and vasculature following direct activation of sensory nerves in the respiratory system, elicitation of oxidative stress and inflammation, or through other mechanisms is one of the primary ways that exposure to air pollution affects normal cardiovascular function. Any homeostatic process that utilizes the autonomic nervous system to regulate organ function might be affected. Thus, air pollution and other inhaled environmental irritants have the potential to alter both local airway function and baro- and chemoreflex responses, which modulate autonomic control of blood pressure and detect concentrations of key gases in the body. While each of these reflex pathways causes distinct responses, the systems are heavily integrated and communicate through overlapping regions of the brainstem to cause global effects. This short review summarizes the function of major pulmonary sensory receptors, baroreceptors, and carotid body chemoreceptors and discusses the impacts of air pollution exposure on these systems.
Topics: Air Pollution; Autonomic Nervous System; Cardiovascular System; Chemoreceptor Cells; Heart Rate; Humans; Lung; Pressoreceptors; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; Sensory Receptor Cells
PubMed: 25123706
DOI: 10.1007/s12012-014-9272-0 -
Clinical Autonomic Research : Official... Jun 2017
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Humans
PubMed: 28315024
DOI: 10.1007/s10286-017-0415-9 -
International Journal of... Oct 2023Evidence suggests affective disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder are characterised by dysregulated autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. These findings... (Review)
Review
Evidence suggests affective disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder are characterised by dysregulated autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. These findings suggest ANS dysregulation may be involved in the pathogenesis of affective disorders. Different affective states are characterised by different ANS activity patterns (i.e., an increase or decrease in sympathetic or parasympathetic activity). To understand how ANS abnormalities are involved in the development of affective disorders, it is important to understand how affective states correlate with ANS activity before their onset. Using heart rate variability (HRV) as a tool to measure ANS activity, this review aimed to look at associations between affective states and HRV in non-clinical populations (i.e., in those without medical and psychiatric disorders). Searches on PubMed and Google Scholar were completed using the following search terms: heart rate variability, autonomic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, affective state, mood and emotion in all possible combinations. All but one of the studies examined (N = 13), demonstrated significant associations between affect and HRV. Findings suggest negative affect, encompassing both diffused longer-term experiences (i.e., mood) as well as more focused short-term experiences (i.e., emotions), may be associated with a reduction in parasympathetic activity as measured through HRV parameters known to quantify parasympathetic activity (e.g., high frequency (HF)-HRV). HRV measures typically linked to reduction in parasympathetic activity appear to be linked to negative affective states in non-clinical populations. However, given the complex and possibly non-linear relationship between HRV and parasympathetic activity, further studies need to clarify specificity of these findings. Future studies should investigate the potential utility of HRV measures as biomarkers for monitoring changes in affective states and for early detection of onset and relapse of depression in patients with affective disorders.
Topics: Humans; Heart Rate; Autonomic Nervous System; Parasympathetic Nervous System; Sympathetic Nervous System; Affect
PubMed: 37543289
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.08.001 -
Anaesthesia Mar 2015Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is frequently observed in patients with diabetes mellitus. As anaesthesia has a marked effect on peri-operative autonomic function,... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is frequently observed in patients with diabetes mellitus. As anaesthesia has a marked effect on peri-operative autonomic function, the interplay between diabetic neuropathy and anaesthesia may result in unexpected haemodynamic instability during surgery. The objective of this literature review was to examine the association of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy with peri-operative cardiovascular complications. We searched PubMed for articles with search elements of autonomic dysfunction [MeSH] AND anaesthesia [MeSH] AND complications [MeSH]. Depending on the type of anaesthesia, the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in surgical patients can markedly affect peri-operative haemodynamics and postoperative recovery. Pre-operative testing of the extent of autonomic dysfunction in particular populations, like diabetics, may contribute to a reduction in haemodynamic instability and cardiovascular complications. Non-invasive diagnostic methods assessing autonomic function may be an important tool during pre-operative risk assessment.
Topics: Anesthesia; Autonomic Nervous System; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetic Neuropathies; Humans; Intraoperative Complications; Postoperative Complications; Risk Factors
PubMed: 25303176
DOI: 10.1111/anae.12904